Atheism
Last updated: September 25, 2024
What are the main reasons for being atheist? Is it seeing the amount of pain and suffering in the world as incompatible with a loving God? Or is it that the scientific worldview no longer leaves room for a spiritual being somewhere in the universe? Can there be objective moral values without a divine legislator? Can there be a meaning of life if it isn't the product of a cosmic architect?
Our book recommendations on atheism reflect such pressing questions. If you're thinking about atheism for the first time, philosopher Julian Baggini's book recommendations are a good place to start. If you've been thinking about atheism for a while, one question many people wonder about is how morality works without a religious framework. We have several sets of book recommendations on this topic, from distinguished philosopher the late Mary Warnock, author Kenan Malik and British philosopher AC Grayling.
The incompatibility of religion and science is the main concern of evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne, while the distinguished British chemist Peter Atkins talks about the emergence of understanding. Books by Richard Dawkins, the British scientist and atheist, are among our most recommended on Five Books. His book, The God Delusion, recommended below, is his most famous book devoted to atheism.
One challenge for atheists is finding meaning in life. In his interview on humanism, Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, a charity which supports people pursuing a secular lifestyle, explains how adopting a specifically 'humanist' worldview can help.
We have also included Five Books interviews on historically prominent atheists such as David Hume and Friedrich Nietzsche.
The best books on Atheism, recommended by Susan Jacoby
The main reason for the survival of religion is not a desire to live a better life, but our fear of death, says atheist author and independent scholar Susan Jacoby. Here she recommends five books she considers essential to “understanding the merits of atheism.”
The best books on Atheism, recommended by Julian Baggini
Which are the best books on atheism? The British philosopher Julian Baggini, author of Atheism: A Very Short Introduction, chooses his top five.
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1
Why I am not a Christian
by Bertrand Russell -
2
The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God
by John Mackie -
3
Testament: Memoir of the Thoughts and Sentiments of Jean Meslier
by Jean Meslier -
4
Dialogues and Natural History of Religion
by David Hume -
5
In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion
by Scott Atran
The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion, recommended by Graham Oppy
The best books on Atheist Philosophy of Religion, recommended by Graham Oppy
From the work of an 18th century atheist priest, to recent research in the cognitive anthropology of religion, atheist philosopher of religion Graham Oppy discusses the books that have been most influential to him.
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1
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God
by Carl Sagan -
2
The Atheist's Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life without Illusions
by Alex Rosenberg -
3
God in the Age of Science?: A Critique of Religious Reason
by Herman Philipse -
4
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
by Daniel Dennett -
5
A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom
by Andrew Dickson White
The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne
The best books on The Incompatibility of Religion and Science, recommended by Jerry Coyne
Embracing a scientific worldview excludes the possibility of also believing in God, says evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne. He picks five non-accommodationist books.
The best books on Humanism, recommended by Andrew Copson
Humanist ideas are not a recent phenomenon, but have been around for millennia, says Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK. He explains why it’s worth making a positive choice to be a humanist and recommends a great humanist reading list.
The best books on God, recommended by Anthony Gottlieb
The philosopher and former executive editor of The Economist, Anthony Gottlieb, discusses religion and suggests that belief in God only truly declines in a society when economic development brings existential security.
The best books on Morality Without God, recommended by Kenan Malik
Religion is often presented as the guardian of moral values. The problem with this, says the author and broadcaster, is that it diminishes what it means to be human. He picks the best books on morality without God.
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1
Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography
by Rüdiger Safranski & translator Shelley Frisch -
2
Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy
by Maudemarie Clark -
3
Nietzsche’s System
by John Richardson -
4
Beyond Good and Evil
by Friedrich Nietzsche & Walter Kaufmann (translator) -
5
On the Genealogy of Morality
by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter
The Best Nietzsche Books, recommended by Brian Leiter
Relativist, atheist, existentialist, Nazi. All have been said of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, some with more reason than others. We asked Nietzsche expert Brian Leiter to explain the appeal of the controversial philosopher and recommend books to get started with to understand him and his work.
The best books on David Hume, recommended by Simon Blackburn
Hume had a message he wanted to get out — particularly as regards skepticism about religion — but he was no proto-Richard Dawkins, says Cambridge philosopher, Simon Blackburn. He chooses the best books on (or by) David Hume.
The best books on The Role of Religion, recommended by Selina O'Grady
Religion has an ability to create groups and communities that has yet to be surpassed, argues Selina O’Grady, author of And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus.
